Man sentenced in stalking
A 27-year-old man who led St. Albert RCMP and a police dog on a chase more than two kilometres through a swamp was fined and handed a suspended sentence at the end of August.
Judge Charles Donald Gardner fined Jared Veitch $1,000 for one count of resisting a peace officer and a 12-month suspended sentence for unlawful harassment at St. Albert Provincial Court on Aug. 29. The sentence included a clause Veitch take his medication as prescribed,
Veitch, who now lives in B.C., appeared in court over the phone and originally faced five charges, including two counts of threats to cause death or bodily harm; two counts of intimidation — threats of violence; and one count of unlawfully harassing or stalking; and a separate charge of resisting peace officer.
Veitch pleaded guilty to one count unlawfully harass and stalk, and one count of resisting a peace officer.
According to the agreed statement of facts, Veitch made a death threat to the complainant on Oct. 23, 2019, while the pair were in a vehicle, then began driving erratically.
He made similar threats on April 16, 2022, and called the complainant 85 times between April 16 and April 19 this year.
Veitch’s ex-girlfriend contacted Whitecourt police on April 19.
On April 22, Whitecourt RCMP contacted St. Albert RCMP to assist in executing warrants for Veitch, court heard.
Veitch answered the door at his St. Albert residence when police knocked, then fled through the back door. He led police on a two-kilometre chase through a swamp before a police dog took him down.
Two officers were injured during the foot chase. Veitch suffered minor injuries from the dog.
The sentence was through joint submission by defence counsel and the Crown.
Veitch said at the time of the incident he was not taking medication for ADHD, but has been taking it since.
Gardner said Veitch showed very concerning behaviour that was not “spur of the moment.”
Court date adjourned for former Paul Kane teacher
A high school teacher facing charges connected with alleged sex offences against two victims will be back in court in two weeks.
The court date for Bryce Hughes, 28, of Edmonton was adjourned by Judge Charles Donald Gardner until Sept. 12 for election and plea at St. Albert Provincial Court on Aug. 29.
Hughes was originally charged with agreeing to or arranging a sexual offence against a child; making sexually explicit material available to a child; making child pornography; and possession of child pornography on March 31.
On June 14, after another alleged victim was identified, Hughes was charged with sexual exploitation and luring a child.
